On Long Island, Palin Opens Up and Plays Coy

New York Times ^ | February 17, 2011 | JEFF ZELENY

[rob777]

snip
>br> She said it was unwise for Republicans to keep doubts alive about the authenticity of President Obama’s birth certificate and citizenship, saying: “It’s distracting. It gets annoying. Let’s stick with what really matters.”

snip

[rob777]

Does such a focus distract us from going after the left on its over all agenda? Some believe that it is repeating the same mistake made in going after Clinton himself rather than his policies. The trick is to focus on the fact that no one is above the law and not given the appearance of a personal vendetta.

[Paladin2]

Palin doesn't "get it" (publicly anyway).

She shouldn't deflect from the "Natural Born" issue by claiming it's something else.

[IbJensen]

The more the prospective Republicrat candidates pontificate, the more they disqualify themselves.

I was an avid Palin fan before the Hoarse-Whisperer selected her, but when I saw the Armada containing the neo-conservatives sail up to Alaska to embrace the Governor I began having second thoughts.

We may not have formally met our ‘true conservative’ candidate yet.

[SMARTY]

“Let’s stick with what really matters.”

??

[Finalapproach29er]

It gets annoying. Let’s stick with what really matters.”
******
The Constitution doesn’t matter.

Pretty disappointing,Sarah.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Can the person who has been so distracting and annoying be named?

[Aria]

She will just be playing into her opponents hands if she makes this one of her big issues .... it must be left to others. Sounds like the SCOTUS is looking at this again.

[Tex-Con-Man]

Palin continues to show savvy political instincts...despite the “polls”, birtherism is not a priority to a vast majority of conservatives.

[rob777]

"She will just be playing into her opponents hands if she makes this one of her big issues ...."


The point is not whether any one candidate makes it one of their big issues, but whether the issue itself is "distracting and annoying". I do not think it is if handled properly. Wherever Obama was born, he has not been forthcoming in making all his records public. It is not unreasonable to ask for more transparency from someone seeking the highest office in the land. One need not engage in conspiracy theories to demand that such an office holder be more forthcoming.

[MEGoody]

Um, Sarah, people have the right to voice their concerns about whatever issues are on their priority list.

I used to think it was silly to waste time questioning Obama's eligibility. But after all this time, I've still not seen a birth certificate for the guy who purportedly was born in Hawaii. It's not my primary concern, but it IS a concern.

[little jeremiah]

Oh yeah?

You’re a liar.

[little jeremiah]

Annoying?

She’s starting to annoy me.

[Tex-Con-Man]

During the last congressional election cycle, please list the number of Republicans that ran on birtherism...

[little jeremiah]

Ordinary non-elected conservatives think it is a big deal.

You said “conservatives”, now you’re saying “Republicans who ran for office”.

You think people are stupid and don’t see your shilling for 0h0m0.

[9YearLurker]

Holding out for 2012’s Duncan Hunter, are you?

[Tex-Con-Man]

The current freshman Republicans (the ones elected in the last congressional election cycle) are fairly conservative, and are pulling the party leadership to the right.

Leading up to election, there were a couple of candidates accused of being birthers who immediately went out of there way to make it clear they were not.

It was an historic election for conservatism...without birtherism. About 90 days ago.

[Leader_Of_The _Conservatives]

I know you don’t like her, but really NYTimes? Come on!

I am also a birther and feel Sarah’s answer did not say “I believe he was born her or is a Christian” we should just focus on the issues that matter right now. I think it is a good move and shows she doesn’t need to prescribe and attack Obama on each issue. But Paulbots like yourself don’t see a statesman/woman when you see one. She will voice her opinion on the issue when it counts.

[sheik yerbouty]

Getting the 0bamanation out of the WH. I think Palin thinks that at this moment, it is not tacticly sound. It can be brought to the fore closer to the 2012 election..

[sheik yerbouty]

Getting the 0bamanation out of the WH. I think Palin thinks that at this moment, it is not tacticly sound. It can be brought to the fore closer to the 2012 election..

[jamese777]

Getting the 0bamanation out of the WH. I think Palin thinks that at this moment, it is not tacticly sound. It can be brought to the fore closer to the 2012 election..

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The problem is that Governor Palin is now on the record saying that Obama’s status as a natural born citizen doesn’t matter as an issue. If she says something different later, Obama will brand her as a “flip-flopper.”