Why Birtherism Is Here To Stay

Townhall.com ^ | May 1, 2011 | Steve Chapman

[Kaslin]

On Oct. 22, 1844, thousands of followers of American evangelist William Miller woke up expecting Jesus Christ to make his triumphant return that day, as they had been told. That night, they went to bed, surprised and disappointed. But Miller's movement endured.

It was too much to expect that birthers, presented with President Barack Obama's birth certificate, would say: "What surprising and wonderful news! We'll have to reassess our entire opinion of him." When it comes to matters of blind faith, cherished beliefs have a way of overriding facts.

There has never been a shred of persuasive evidence that Obama was born anywhere but Hawaii. But thanks to rampant paranoia and widespread credulity, the myth of his foreign origins gained currency among many people who should know better.

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that 25 percent of Americans, including 45 percent of Republicans, do not believe Obama was born in America. A poll taken after the release of his birth certificate showed 18 percent of those who have seen it still aren't convinced.

Something about this president impels many people to accept anything that is said about him, as long as it's unfavorable. Twelve percent of Americans think he's a Muslim. Plenty of others believe things contradicted by his first two years in office -- that he's a radical leftist, an anti-gun fanatic, a disciple of world government and Darth Vader's delinquent nephew.

They even believe he's an inarticulate dunce who got into Ivy League schools only because of affirmative action and can't utter an intelligible sentence without a teleprompter. Never mind that he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and taught at another premier university, the University of Chicago.

[bolobaby]

“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

Winston Churchill

[Doctor 2Brains]

for later

[Genoa]

There has never been a shred of persuasive evidence that Obama was born anywhere but Hawaii.

Down at the DMV, I was the one who had to show evidence.

[niteowl77]

"There has never been a shred of persuasive evidence that Michelle Obama was not born with the most exquisite fashion sense of all time. But thanks to rampant paranoia and widespread credulity, the myth of her hideous fashion sense and inappropriate clothing choices gained currency among many people who should know better."

Yet I remain a "styler." Go figure.

Mr. niteowl77

[henry_reardon]

as usual a liberal projecting his own blind faith in “the won” onto those of us who just want to see some documentation that isn’t photo shopped

[SomeCallMeTim]

So.... Obama is NOT a radical leftist??

I think, perhaps... this writer is suffering from the same delusions he describes.

[MamaTexan]

There has never been a shred of persuasive evidence that Obama was born anywhere but Hawaii.

ROFLMAO!

Isn't it just PEACHY how they try to rephrase the pertinent question in order to marginalize the people asking it?

-----

Where he was born is secondary to whom he was born TO.

pResident Barack Obama Barry Soetoro is NOT a Natural-born citizen!

[J40000]

Nonsense. This is elitist prattle.

Much of the point of ‘birther-ism’ is that the man is DISHONEST.

His first 2 years in office show he ISN’T a radical leftist, anti-gun fanatic, or a disciple of world government???
Wow.

WHO have YOU been watching, sir? And what ‘FACTS’ do YOU have?

[Defend Liberty]

" When it comes to matters of blind faith, cherished beliefs have a way of overriding facts.

It's blind faith to accept the word of a flaming socialist who has repeatedly lied to the American people and is out to destroy the country.

There has never been a shred of persuasive evidence that Obama was born anywhere but Hawaii.

There's never been a shred of evidence to prove he was born in Hawaii. Steve Chapman doesn't understand it is incumbent upon the person seeking the office of President to prove he or she is Constitutionally eligible, including the natural born citizenship clause in Article 2 Section 1 of the Constitution. It is not incumbent upon the people to prove someone is not eligible to be President.

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that 25 percent of Americans, including 45 percent of Republicans, do not believe Obama was born in America. A poll taken after the release of his birth certificate showed 18 percent of those who have seen it still aren't convinced.

Consider the source before accepting those figures as fact.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Kaslin.

[danamco]

Chapman doesn’t like these facts about “birtherism,” LOL!!!

http://atlahmedianetwork.org/?p=14677

[SouthDixie]

the man is DISHONEST.

That is my contention as well. If he would just come clean, and admit the truth, all this nonsense would be history. Instead he chooses to snowball the lies and quite arrogantly too I might add.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

"They even believe he's an inarticulate dunce who got into Ivy League schools only because of affirmative action..."

"Well, uh, I, uh, uh, mmm,uh, er, think, uh, mmmm, er, that, ,uh, uh, mmm, ...57 states, uh, um, errr, speak Austrian, uh, um, er, mmmm,...."

[mcshot]

.....”They even believe he’s an inarticulate dunce who got into Ivy League schools only because of affirmative action and can’t utter an intelligible sentence without a teleprompter”.....

Yes

Prove graduation status at Harvard which is starting to mean Hall of Dunces

How can this guy fly on leftest BS.

[Candor7]

If Obama was such a great law student, why in old hail is his client list suppressed by the Illnois Bar Association, allegedly pursynt to Obama’s request??

Whats wrong Obama, did you represent Chicago thugs and gangsters and little else? Lets see your clients list Obama, what are you hiding?

[patriot08]

There is no way that the founders of this great nation intended for an illegitimate child of a foreign bigamist to attain the highest, most powerful position in the new land.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

If Obama was such a great law student, why in old hail is his client list suppressed by the Illnois Bar Association, allegedly pursynt to Obama’s request??

That's nonsense. Why would the Illinois Bar Association have Obama's client list?

[libertylover]

Where he was born is secondary to whom he was born TO.

OK, I'll bite. To whom WAS he born and what is your evidence?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In the day of Photoshop, a digital image proves nothing.

But let's pretend like it does, and call anybody who won't accept it crazy. It's the Alinsky way.

Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals #5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."