JAMES TARANTO: It's certifiable: the last word on Obama's place of birth

The Wall Street Journal ^ | July 30, 2009 | JAMES TARANTO

[curiosity]

Several readers have written over the past few days taking us to task for dismissing so-called birthers as lunatics without bothering to refute their claims. We reluctantly concede their point. The birthers have managed to sow confusion in the minds of some who are not lunatics, and for the latter group’s benefit it is worth clarifying matters.

[pissant]

Pure crap.

[El Sordo]

Refutation is pointless.

People don't latch onto this because it is true.

They latch onto this because they want to believe it is true.

[mkjessup]

Taranto dances the Tarantella as he spins madly to justify the WSJ’s erroneous views.

[Red Steel]

Hey curiosity, I’m curious what’s your job in the DNC?

[SoConPubbie]

They latch onto this because they want to believe it is true.

Show the Long-form of the Birth-Certificate and the issue goes away.

There should be no reason NOT to show the ACTUAL Birth-Certificate.

[curiosity]

Refutation is pointless.

I know. I'm just posting it here so that the world sees not all Freepers are fruitcakes.

[the invisib1e hand]

I forget what Taranto flip-flopped on last year but I remember wondering what they'd put in his water. It might have been this issue, might have been another. But I recall he came out with uncharacterstic masculinity against it.

*tih is agnostic on this issue.

[curiosity]

Show the Long-form of the Birth-Certificate and the issue goes away.

No it won't. You'll just say the long form he shows is a fake, and you'll double down on the argument that he can't be a natural born citizen because is father wasn't a citizen.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

“A lie told often enough becomes truth”

Vladimir Lenin

[El Sordo]

This bit is pure gold:

“The release of the obsolete birth certificate would not “resolve the issue” to those for whom it is not already resolved. They claim without basis that today’s birth certificate is a fake; there is nothing to stop them from claiming without basis that yesterday’s is as well.

The president would gain nothing politically for his trouble. By acknowledging the birthers’ demands, he would lend them a modicum of credibility. By ignoring them, he actually reaps political benefits from their efforts. His critics, even those who are not birthers, end up looking like cranks by association. His supporters use the birthers to paint Obama foes as racist—which is probably unfair even to the birthers, as we argued Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective.

[GoldStandard]

Show the Long-form of the Birth-Certificate and the issue goes away.

Pure BS. Conspiracy theorists always move the goal post once they get refuted or whatever demands they're currently harping on are met.

I promise you if that was even done, WorldNetDaily would find some reason to keep the crazy train a-rollin'.

[metmom]

They’re citing FactCheck.org.

Well, then, it MUST be true.....

/s

[marron]

The release of the obsolete birth certificate would not “resolve the issue” to those for whom it is not already resolved

Uh, yes, it would.

That, and the answer to the question, "what citizenship did you claim in college".

That would about wrap it up.

[El Sordo]

And I thank you.

I do find myself a fair bit disappointed by how far the level of discourse has dropped here over the years.

It can be discouraging at times.

[mkjessup]

I'm just posting it here so that the world sees not all Freepers are fruitcakes.

Right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook. You have learned well, little DNC glasshopper. Submit dishonorable invoice to

0bama for America
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20016

Attn: Rahm Emmanuel, Accounts Payable.

[marron]

Try us.

[Las Vegas Ron]

They latch onto this because they want to believe it is true.

No, we've latched on to this because we don't know what is true, nor do you.

We would just like to know, if that isn't asking too much

[Non-Sequitur]

bump

[pissant]

Pure nonsense. Obama is in a flop sweat. This thing is picking up more steam and it will steamroll the marxist, much to the horror of your delicate sensibilities.